Figtier



H. A. SWORTFIGUER.

ENVELOP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 28, IBIS.

l 1 9%fi%0. Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

I awmmtoz WIT/meow My 45 engagement of the interlocking and sliding HARRY A. SWORTFIGUER, OF NEW YQRK, It. Y.

ENVELOP.

Specificationo Letters Fatent. Patjgmtbggfl A g 15 jlgmfi Application filed April 28, 1916. Serial No. 94,156.

To all whom it may concern..-

Be it known that l, HARRY A. SWORT- rrourm, citizen of the United States, residing at 604 West One Hundred and Sixtysecond street, New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in reversible and expanding envelops, and has for its object to provide an envelop of the type described wherein the same may be readily stamped out or out from a sheet of cardboard or other suitable material, and which, when put together or folded to proper form for use, results in a comparatively rigid envelop which is not liable to become disconnected and yet capable of being readily expanded or contracted.

Provision is made in carrying out this invention to stamp or out the envelop inthe form ofa single piece from a sheet of suitable material and then score the blank thus out to provide line marks or indentations upon which indentationssaid blank is folded to form the top, bottom and end flaps of said envelop. Furthermore, provision is made whereby an efficient and simple connection is made between the end flaps, and the bottom flap for maintaining said flaps in constant interlocking and sliding engagement to permit said envelop to be expanded or contracted as occasion may demand.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tongue and slit interlocking connection for the purpose specified, wherein a the tongue of such connection is carried by one of the flaps of said envelop and adapted to be folded into interlocking position within the slit of another flap and thereafter suitably connected at its free end to the flap to which it secured, whereby accidental disconnection of said envelop flaps is prevented.

Another object of the invention is the provision of reinforcing extensions carried by certain of the envelop flaps which serve to prevent the collapse of the main walls of the envelop when said envelop is in expanded condition.

With these and other ob ects, features, and

advantages in view, the invention consists in the novel formation and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed, it being understood that var10us changes in form, proportion, and minor details, within the scope of said claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of the envelop in a contracted condition with the top flap closing the envelop and suitably tied down; Fig. 2 represents the envelop blank stamped from any suitable material and formed in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 3 is a front view of the envelop when folded and connected for use, said envelop being illustrated in a contracted condition; Fig. 4: is an end view of theen- 'velop as shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a front.

viewof the envelop in an expanded condition, and Fig. 6 is an end view of said envelop as shown in Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings, it is to be noted that the blank, as stamped from suitable material, consists of a main retaining wall or back 1 having a top edge 2, a bottom edge 3 and end edges 4: and 5. Integrally attached to the top edge 2 is atop flap 6 marked or scored with lines 7 upon which said top flap may be folded in order to form the top retaining wall of the envelop. A bottom flap 8 is also integrally attached to the bottom edge 3, and this flap is provided with line marks 9 along which the lower flap may be folded to form the bottom retaining wall of said envelop. End flaps 10 and 11 are also provided, and these flaps are integrally attached to the end edges 4: and 5 respectively, said end flaps being provided with line marks or indentations 12 and 13 respectively, along which these flaps may be folded to form the end retaining walls of the envelop. The end flaps 10. and 11 are provided with diagonally arranged slits 14 and 15 respectively, and furthermore each end flap has two oppositely disposed extensions or flaps 16 which serve as a reinforcing means for the envelop at the top and bottom thereof and prevent accidental collapse of the walls when the envelop is in expanded condition. These extensions are also provided with line marks 17 upon which they may be folded according to the extent to which the envelop is to be-expanded. The bottom flap is provided with tongues 18 and '19, inte' grally formed therewith and capable of being folded to proper position. along the diagonal line marks or indentations and 21 respective1y. This bottom flap is also provided with two diagonal slits 22 and 23 at each end thereof, the purpose of which will be herein-.

after set. forth; The outer edge of the bottom flap 8 is indicated'at 24,

In forming the envelop the end flaps are foldedinwardly along the lines i and 5 and then the bottom flap is folded upwardly along. the'line 3, after which the tongues 18 and 19 may be bent along the, diagonal lines 20. and21 where they assume a position parallel to and transversely disposed with I' respect to the bottom-flap; The tongues are then passedback to the end flaps and in serted Within the diagonal slits formed 1 therein, the free ends" of said tongues then venting theaccidental disengagement of the so forming a secure connection between said.

free'ends ofthe tongues and the bottom flap which carry the same, and in' this way preinterlocking andsliding connection formed between the end flaps and said-bottom flap.

In the event it is desired to expand the envelop to provide a large space therein for papers or other contents,'it'is only necessary to force the end flaps outwardly and'fold thesame on any one of the lines or creases 12 and 13, according to the extent to which the envelop isto be expanded. This forces the bottom flap 8 downwardly Where it may be folded on the line or crease 9 correspondi ngto the line upon whichthe end flaps have been folded. Fig. 5 illustrates the envelop expanded to its fullextent, and in making the change from they contracted condition (such as shown in Fig. 3) to such expanded A condition, the tongues move from the upper ends of the diagonal slits-14 and 15 to the lower ends thereof, as is clearly shown in sliding. engagement. 7

said Fig.. 5. The free ends of the tongues 18'and 19 being securely locked in the bottom flap, there is no liability of said tongues becom ng disengaged from the diagonal slits .14. and 15, formed" inthe end flaps, and

therefore said end flaps and the bottom flap are m'aintainediri secure interlocking and It'will be readily understood that an en 'velop constructedas above described maybe cheaply .and efficiently manufactured by stamping a single blank from a sheet of suit-' able material, and when form from such blank folded into proper and connected t0-.-

gether as described,-;,results in anextremely rigid v and firm envelop, which is-not liable to become disconnected, and; at the same time, may be readily expanded to accommodate any suitable amount of papers or other contents.

The envelop, if found desirable, may be reversed by merely folding the top, bottom and end flaps toward the opposite side of the main retaining wall or backl, as will be obvious.

The top flap 6-is provided with two slits 25 through which may be passed a tape or cord (shown in dotted lines), which can be tied about the envelop where itserves to hold said top flap in proper position after its contents have been inserted.

I claim v Y 1. In an envelop of the class described, a main retaining wall, a bottom flap and end flaps, and means for providinga sliding connection between the bottom flap andthe end flaps, said means comprising a slit in one, and means carried by the other for engagement in said slit, so that the end flap is maintained in constant interlocking and sliding engagement with the bottom flap, the free end of said means also having interlocking engagement with the part which carries the same to prevent said means from becoming disengaged.

2. In an envelop of the'class described, a main retaining wall, a bottom flap and end flaps, and means for providing a sliding connection between the bottom flap and the end flaps, said means comprising a diagonal slit in one, and a tongue carried by the other forengagement within said slit so that the end flaps are maintained in constant interlocking and sliding engagement with the bottom flap, the free end of said tongue also having interlocking engagement 'With the part which carries the same. to prevent said tongue from becomin disengaged.

3. In an envelop o the class described, a main retaining wall and a bottom flap and end flaps all integral with said wall, each of said end flaps being provided with a slit and the bottom flap being provided at each end thereof with an integral tongue for engagement within said slit so that the end flaps are arranged to be maintained in constant interlocking and sliding engagement with the bottom flap, the free end ofsaid' tongues also having interlocking engagement with the bottom flap to prevent said tongues from ecomlng disengaged from the end flaps.

In an envelop of the class described, a main retainin wall and a bottom flap and end flaps all integral with said wall,'each of saidend flaps being provided with an elongated diagonal slit, and the bottom flap being provided at each end thereof with an integral tongue folded alonga line where it lies parallel to and in a transverse position with respect to said bottom flap for engagement within said dia onal slit so that the end flaps are arrange to be maintained in aaeaaao constant interlocking and sliding engagement with the bottom flap the free end of said tongue also engaging within a slit provided in the bottom flap to prevent said tongue from becoming disengaged from its sliding engagement with the end flaps.

5. In an envelop of the classdescribed, a main retaining wall, a bottom flap and end flaps, means for providing a tongue and slit slidable connection between the bottom flap and an end flap, and means whereby the free end of the tongue is secured to the part which carries the same to prevent said tongue from becoming disengaged from its slidable connection.

6. In an envelop of the class described, a main retaining wall, a bottom flap and end flaps, and means for providing a sliding engagement between the bottom flap and an end flap, said means comprising a slit i one, and a tongue carried by the other fo ii engagement within said slit so that said end flap and the bottom flap are maintained in constant interlocking and sliding engagement, said tongue being folded to a position where it lies substantially parallel to the part which carries the same.

7. In an envelop of the class described, a main retaining wall, a bottom flap and end flaps, and means for providing a sliding engagement between the bottom flap and an end flap, said means comprising a slit in the end flap, and a tongue'carried by the bottom flap for engagement within said slit so that said end flap and the bottom flap are maintained in constant interlocking and sliding engagement, said tongue being folded along, a line. where it lies parallel to and in a transverse position with respect to said bottom flap.

8. In an envelop of the class described, a main retaining wall, a bottom flap and end flaps, and means for providing a sliding engagement between the bottom flap and an end flap, said means comprising a diagonal slit in the end flap and a tongue carried by the bottom flap for engagement Within said slit so that said end flap and the bottom flap are maintained in constant interlocking and sliding engagement, said tongue being so out in the formation of the envelop blank as to lie lengthwise of the bottom flap which carries the same but adapted to be folded-along a diagonal line where it is substantially parallel to and in a transverse position with res ect to said bottom flap for engagement within the diagonal slit of the end flap.

9. In an envelop of the class described, a main retaining wall, a bottom flap and end flaps, and means for providing a sliding enflaps, means for providing a slidable connection between the bottom flap and each end flap, and extensions carried by the end flaps and adapted to be folded to a position within the walls of the envelop for reinforcing the same when in an expanded condition, said extensions being creased so as to be folded on various lines as the envelop is expanded.

11. In an envelop of the class described, a main retaining wall; a bottom flap and end flaps, means for providing a slidable connection between the bottom flap and each end flap, and two oppositely disposed extensions carried by each of said end flaps and adapted to be folded to a position within the walls of the envelop for reinforcing the same when in an expanded condition, said bottom and end flaps and also the extensions bcing creased so as to be folded on various lines as the envelop is expanded.

12. In an envelop of the class described, a main retaining wall, a bottom flap and an end flap, means for providing a slidable connection between the bottom flap and said end flap, and extensions carried by the main envelop structure and adapted to be folded to a position within the walls of the envelop for reinforcing the same when in an expanded condition, said extensions adapted to be folded on various lines as the envelop is expanded.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY A. SWORTFIGUER. Witnesses:

THOMAS LESTER HURLEY, LAWRENCE A. SULLIVAN. 

